The tension remained between them after the said confrontation. Kani, compelled by the guilt pguing him, tried to address the issue once again. In spite of that, he found himself facing another reemerging problem.

  Cashile walked into his study with three letters in hand. “Master, they are sending letters again. I think we need to address the situation in Masih as soon as we can.”

  “Didn’t you send letters declining their offers?”

  Cashile nodded. “Yes, I did but I don’t think they’re going to stop until they talk to you personally.”

  Kani frowned. “I’d rather not meet them.”

  “I told you to send me there,” Karel chimed in, still writing on his table.

  Cashile looked at his master, also concerned.

  Kani sighed in defeat. “Fine, I’ll do something about it. Tend to the other matters as usual, Cashile.”

  “Yes, master. I understand.”

  Kani had always been a w-abiding citizen and Karel relented to his wish to travel in a ship from Weissdel going to Shimhazril. The protocols remained effective and jeopardizing himself seemed out of the question because he wanted the journey to be convenient.

  The bodyguard remained silent throughout the journey and the awkward silence graver than the st. The distance Kani thought became closer now had a wide gap.

  They passed through the port city of Dahar and went towards the east.

  “Penzak?” Kani asked, confused.

  Karel said nothing and in the middle of their journey on the deserts, he held onto Kani’s hand and they reappeared near the outskirts of the capital city of Penzak.

  They went to the same inn they stayed in a year ago and Karel finally talked to Kani, “Stay here for now while I deal with the matters in Masih.”

  “Karel, I—”

  “You will be fine here, right?”

  Kani mutely nodded, noticing his distant attitude. The tter gripped onto his shoulder. “I’ll wrap up the problem in Masih as fast as I can. So, stay still here, alright?”

  “I’m not the troublemaker between us, Karel.”

  He huffed in response. “I should be careful with my words next time. I’m rubbing off you.”

  Kani smiled at his reaction and circled his arms on his neck, pulling him down a little bit for an embrace. Karel widened his eyes and cautiously returned it, holding onto that slim waist and pressed their bodies together lightly.

  This warmth, this scent, accompanied by these tumultuous feelings—

  “I’ll see you in a few days,” Kani murmured near his ears.

  Karel parted from the embrace and sternly said, “I’ll be going, Master. Take care.”

  “You too.”

  A figure emerged near the sandstorm and Karel timely erected a barrier to shield himself from the catastrophe. He scowled, realizing the sandstorm obscured his vision of the vicinity and resorted to using his Navigation again.

  Only a few miles away, stood the first town of Masih. He might need to pass through it to avoid suspicions traveling alone in the deserts before going to the capital city.

  He patted the sands off his clothes.

  Protocols, my ass.

  Upon his arrival, Karel urgently sought help from the authorities. Armed by the demands of the bodyguard of the renowned merchant Kani, the official offered his assistance.

  “This is clearly harassment.”

  The official frowned. “While this can count as an evidence, I’m afraid it’s not sufficient to—”

  “Oh?” Karel muttered, challenging him. “Is it a common thing for nobles of Masih to threaten and coerce someone when they desire to?”

  “That’s! That’s not what I mean, good sir!”

  “You must do something about this or else my master will withdraw all his—”

  The official abruptly stood up from his seat, decring, “I understand, sir! I’ll inform the court about this first and we will take immediate action.”

  Karel huffed yet agreed. However, he asked for the evidence back and he himself demanded those letters be presented to the court by him instead. Those letters were the only evidence they had despite its insufficiency.

  Before he exited the office, the King of Masih summoned him after the Royal Advisor caught wind of the incident.

  His tall figure entered the Court Hall and noticed the young man standing before them. If not for the crown on his head, he had mistaken him for a prince instead. He never thought that the King of Masih was even younger than Kani.

  “I heard about what happened. Who are you?”

  He bowed slightly, saluting, “I am El, Your Majesty. I am Master Kani’s personal bodyguard.”

  “Huh?” he reacted. “I never knew Master Kani hired someone. Where are you from?”

  “Nowhere,” he somberly replied. “He just happened to pick up a stray.”

  Karel itched to gouge out those eyes scrutinizing him at the moment. He reminded himself he came here for another matter and not to pick a fight with the said monarch.

  “Your stature and demeanor stated otherwise.” The king chuckled. “Unordinary, might I say.”

  Karel only stood there, waiting for his next words.

  In his time as a Ryhtier1A Ryhtier is a knight servant of a member of the royal family. They function as a manservant or maidservant and, at the same time, as a personal knight. of his younger cousin, he often dealt with the nobles in verbal disputes. With his current disposition as a retive of the imperials, the king before him should be a piece of cake to handle.

  “Master Kani was one of the foreign merchants I’ve met before and he definitely left an impression on me. He’s a hardworking and honest man. To think that my people dare harass him, I’m ashamed of their actions.”

  “I won’t ask much, Your Majesty. However, if this matter is left alone, I’m afraid my master might withdraw all his investments and contracts here in Masih. As you’ve noticed, he never likes inconveniences and Masih isn’t hard to let go.”

  The king frowned at that.

  A no-name merchant managed to convince the king a decade ago and they benefited from their deals and ter on, the products his father procured also became beneficial to the popuce. The nobles—fueled by their greed and thirst for power and authority—tried to do something about it.

  “That… would be a problem.”

  Karel urged, “We have nothing to lose if we withdraw but you would be affected on your end. Please think about this carefully, Your Majesty.”

  “I will. You are dismissed.”

  Necessities like food and clothes remained a problem for Masih. The king tried to extend his helping hand towards his people but the nobles had always kept him in check. It resulted in more impoverished families, high prices of necessities, and demanding taxes.

  The King looked outside, towards his city.

  “This is an opportunity to take, Your Majesty,” hinted the Royal Advisor.

  “I know.”

  “Master Kani helped us procure food elsewhere and transport it here nearly fresh despite the distance. Those dry goods like fabric also made our living somehow comfortable. If we lost his—”

  “This, I know.” He sighed and closed his eyes.

  Neglectful—they often said that about him. In his perspective unknown to the public, one wrong move could have him dethroned. With the current situation he’s in, it felt like the royal authority was a joke.

  “I failed, right?” he asked.

  “No, Your Majesty. You can still do more for your people. You’re only twenty two.”

  Twenty two, he thought.

  At the age of seventeen, he sat on the throne after his father’s sudden death. The nobles seized his power instead and only made him a figurehead. In most royal and legal affairs, even as a monarch, he could do nothing.

  “Perhaps, it’s time.”

  “Please tell me what to do.”

  “Cooperate with the bodyguard El. That man isn’t ordinary, you see. He can help us.”

  The Royal advisor bowed. “I will heed your orders, Your Majesty.”

  Karel strolled around looking for a dwelling when he noticed the Royal Advisor himself making his way to him. He saluted him and dropped the news without further ado, “You will be a royal guest, Sir El.”

  So, there’s really an underlying situation.

  “I’m honored.”

  “Now, please follow me.”

  They led him to a dwelling near the castle and early morning the next day, the nobles barged in without even informing him about their sudden appointment.

  When he entered the hall alone, Karel met disappointed faces when they realized Kani’s absence.

  After the stiff pleasantries, Karel spoke without further ado, “Master Kani sent me to negotiate with you.”

  “Negotiate?” one of the nobles scoffed. “He ignored our letters time and time again and now he wants to negotiate?”

  “He pondered a lot about your offer, hence the reason why I am here,” Karel answered, unwavering.

  “Oh?”

  Another noble, “Your master is quite arrogant, isn’t he? I believe he’s not a noble but acts like one. How dare he ignore our requests in the first pce.”

  “My master is swamped with work and prioritized his business over anything else. Your letters might have been stacked elsewhere.”

  “Prioritize? Didn’t he send a letter declining our proposal?”

  Karel smiled a little. “That’s what I’m saying. Master clearly said no but you kept on pestering him. What can you not understand about the word ‘no’?”

  “How dare you talk to us like that!”

  Karel shrugged. “You’re harassing my master.”

  “Harassment?” one of them scoffed. “How dare he ignore us in the first pce! And now he declines!”

  “That’s coercion then,” he remarked and leaned back.

  “You son of a bitch!”

  He mocked them, “You call yourselves nobles and act like this? It seems like your title is only for decorations.”

  “How dare you!”

  The door opened and everyone gasped seeing the king entering the said room. No one among the nobles bowed in salute and Karel finally realized what kind of problem Masih currently faced. He grinned manically behind his fist and in times like these, he must fan the fmes.

  Karel stood before the King of Masih and wryly smiled. “The evidence is not enough and I know that, Your Majesty. However, it doesn’t mean we will tolerate such actions just because these people wanted to satisfy their greed.”

  Heads turned to him quickly; pairs of eyes gred in anger.

  “You demanded high taxes from any kind of business and coerced my master to do the same. You’re pying us for fools. If we withdraw our contract because you tried to viote it, your loss would be inevitable.”

  “Your Majesty! Please do not listen to this lowlife! He knows nothing of business!”

  The king looked at the count going red with rage. “Or would you like us to lose our supplier? I don’t mind because I have the means to hire another, but how about you?”

  Karel scoffed, smug about it.

  “Master Kani was the only one who relented to your demanding taxes despite not having a physical store in the kingdom.” The king shook his head and turned his head to Karel. “Would you like any compensation?”

  Karel pondered. “If they cannot lower the taxes, I will demand compensation. If they continue to be hostile to us in the future, we can withdraw from Masih altogether. Besides, they can pay the penalties for breaking the contracts.”

  “Wait, Your Majesty!” shouted one of the nobles.

  “Knowing these subjects of mine, they cannot lower the taxes as it is. In the end, I would need to give you compensation.”

  “Your Majesty!” they called onto him now while on their knees.

  Outsiders mustn’t know of their scheme and could only kowtow, begging the king to stop whatever he’s trying to do. In the face of a variable—Karel—they won’t be able to do anything to save their reputation.

  He looked down on them. “Starve and die for all I care.”

  “Your Majesty!” they excimed louder this time.

  “Strip these nobles off their titles and exile them alongside their families. Seize their assets and we will put it in the national treasury.”

  “Wait, that isn’t—”

  “Your Majesty, this is unfair!” the marquis excimed.

  “I’ve tolerated you enough. The disrespect to my name, my honor and my power, I’ve pardoned them time and time again but if you dare to pull the citizenry in your schemes you better yet be food to the desert beasts!”

  They cowered in fear as the king’s shouts increased in volume that even the knights outside entered to see the commotion.

  “We will obey Your Majesty’s command,” said the Royal Advisor despite the uproar.

  How ugly, Karel thought, witnessing the chaos before him.

  When the knights dragged the fallen nobles outside, Karel turned to him, “Will this really be alright? Exiling nobles out of nowhere and just because of a merchant—”

  “I’m not that dumb to not realize what you were trying to do, dear sir. Besides, this is an opportunity you’ve given me, willingly or not.” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t want this kingdom to die like how they killed my father and grabbing this opportunity was the least thing I could do.”

  “As far as protecting my master?”

  He smiled wryly. “Master Kani is an honest and kind man. Despite his compints, he still helped us. I should thank him in person if I could, can you pass the message to him?”

  Karel saluted. “I will, Your Majesty.”

  “So, go now. Return to your master. When you return in a few years’ time, I’ll welcome you vishly unlike now.”